What we do and who we are
In the late 1990s, banks were withdrawing
services from communities across Australia in the pursuit of
economic rationalism and greater efficiency. The problem with this
strategy was that local communities were being left without the
critical economic and financial services needed to keep communities
vibrant, and they struggled to manage financial and banking needs
due to extended travel and inconvenience.
With the withdrawal announced in 2000 of the last full branch of a bank operating in Mundaring, the community decided to do something about it, and called a public meeting. From this meeting a Steering Committee of local people was formed to begin the challenge of raising the support needed for a Community Bank® through Bendigo Bank and then to gain sufficient financial pledges to make it happen. Successful by the end of 2001, MCFS was incorporated and the Steering Committee formed the inaugural Board of Directors to oversee the implementation of the branch.
In
February 2002, the new Mundaring Community
Bank® Branch Bendigo Bank opened at
6945 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring, managed by Gerry Toovey,
with many years of banking and financial services experience,
a cause for much celebration in our community. Almost
seven years later, we're going from strength to strength, and
now have more than 8000 account holders and a viable and strong
business at the branch with our franchise partners, Bendigo Bank Ltd.